5 Players the New York Giants Should Love After the 2013 Scouting Combine

The New York Giants have a lot of work to do this offseason in order to get back to the playoffs in 2013, and it all starts at the combine for Big Blue.

This year should be a defense-heavy draft for Jerry Reese and the G-Men, as New York owned the 31st total defense in the NFL last season.

We can sit here and talk all day about first-rounders the Giants should fall in love with, but what I aimed to do here was highlight some guys—besides Ezekiel Ansah—who could be drafted by the Giants after the first round.

*Please note that while the Giants undoubtedly need help in the secondary, this article was written before the defensive backs worked out at the combine.

Ezekiel Ansah, DE

His name has been tied to the G-Men all offseason, and after a strong showing at the 2013 Senior Bowl, defensive end Ezekiel Ansah continued to shine at the combine.

He hasn't even touched an NFL field yet and he's already being compared to Jason Pierre-Paul (via John Clayton of ESPN).

Like JPP, at 6'5", 271 pounds, Ansah has freakish athletic ability and was dubbed a top performer in the 40-yard dash (4.63), vertical jump (34.5 inches) and broad jump (118 inches), according to NFL.com.

Ansah looked great in drills and now has some of the highest stock among defensive linemen in the upcoming draft.

With Osi Umenyiora probably leaving New York, the Giants have a void to fill at the DE spot and Ansah certainly fits the mold, especially after a fantastic showing at the combine.

Cornelius Washington, OLB

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If the Giants are looking to acquire a solid linebacker late in the draft, look no further than outside linebacker Cornelius Washington, who is projected to go in the fifth round, according to CBS Sports.

Washington had one of the strongest days at the combine among linebackers, excelling in the 40-yard dash (4.55), bench press (36 reps), vertical jump (39 inches) and broad jump (128 inches)—all of which were considered top performances in his class by NFL.com.

Washington opened a lot of eyes at the combine, including those of NFL draft analyst Dion Caputi: